Tag: repentance and rest
God’s mercy through discipline!
Scripture reading for August 31st: Isaiah 30-32, 1st Corinthians 5
1st Corinthians 5: 1-5 “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the Name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.”
Paul had a report of egregious sexual sin in the Corinthian Church. A man there was fornicating with his own stepmother which was a sin even among pagans of that time. The believers were tolerating this and not seeking God for deliverance. Paul stated clearly that this man must be removed if he would not repent. Not stated, but the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 18:15-18 was the likely pattern. Paul recommended turning this person over to Satan and expelling him from fellowship. The motive was this man’s ultimate salvation. When he experienced the darkness of Satan’s grip, the prayer was that repentance and restoration would result. This is God’s mercy over His children in action. The church body was also protected from the defiling spirit that the man was under.
1st Corinthians 5:11-13 “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler–not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.””
Prayer: Father God, You are just and righteous in all You do. Thank You for this plan for spiritual discipline in Your Church. Help Your leaders to have wisdom and courage to follow Your instructions in cases of sexual immorality and idolatry and gross rebellion. Protect Your Church from these evil spirits and deliver those who are seduced and bound by them. Give grace through this process to Your people.
Isaiah 30:15-16 “For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling, and you said, “No! We will flee on horses”; Therefore you shall flee away; and we will ride upon swift steeds”; therefore your pursuers shall be swift.”
The Cornerstone in Zion!
Scripture reading for July 25th: Isaiah 28-30
Beer and alcoholic beverages have been a source of trouble from ancient times. Noah planted a vineyard after the flood and then proceeded to get drunk. (Genesis 9:20-24) The officials of Ephraim and Israel had a drinking problem. (Isaiah 28:1, 7) They were full of pride and under a delusion of invincibility. (Isaiah 28:15) They thought that their “religion” had made them immune to any foreign invasion or correction from God. They were “good people” who were a part of “God’s chosen” and they had Abraham as their father! What more could God want?
The priest and prophets were “blinded” and “drunken” by their refusal to truly love and obey God from their hearts. They were honoring God with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him! (Isaiah 29:13) Their worship of Him was merely rules taught by men, not in Spirit and truth! They thought that they were doing fine but were really lost and heading for judgment! (Isaiah 29:9-10) They could not understand God’s Word because their attitude of pride and self-sufficiency made their hearts hard! In this state, they were worse off than an unbeliever because they were deceived!
God has strength for His people who are by faith trusting in Him. He has a solid Cornerstone that He has placed in Zion. It is a tested Stone that is precious and those who trust in this Stone will never be deceived or dismayed! (Isaiah 28:16) This Stone is a living Stone. (1st Peter 2:4) We who trust and believe are resting on this Cornerstone and become living stones in His temple! Those who reject this Stone and stumble over Him do so because they disobey the message of God because of their pride and hard hearts! (1st Peter 2:7, Isaiah 8:14) In repentance and rest on this Stone will be salvation for all who will trust in Him! (Isaiah 30:15)
The only sure foundation for our life today is to repent and rest on Jesus Christ! False religion encourages us to work our way into God’s favor. When we rest in Christ’s sacrifice, we are saved from the lie of trusting in our own work. What a place of quietness and confidence we have in Christ! (1st Peter 2:4-5, 9-10)
Empty Worship
Scripture reading for July 26th: Isaiah 28-30
“The Lord Says: “These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is made up only of rules taught by men.”” (Isaiah 29:13) .
Man has a deep inner need to worship God. That is his ultimate purpose and greatest delight. God chose Israel as His special treasure and chose to dwell among them, first in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple at Jerusalem. They were given laws and strict rules about where and how they could approach God safely to worship. When Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire before the Lord, they were warned by example that worship in an improper manner could result in sudden death. (Leviticus 10:1-3)
Throughout their history, the Israelites struggled to worship God from their heart with all their strength. They drifted into idolatry again and again. They would sometimes worship God and then go up to an idol temple and offer sacrifices there. Sometimes, they just went through the motions and really had no personal love or care for the Lord Himself.
In our reading today, Israel is involved in this empty worship. God seeks to wake them up and warn them through Isaiah’s prophesy. “Woe to the obstinate children,” declares the Lord, “to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin; who go down to Egypt without consulting Me; who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection, to Egypt’s shade for refuge.” (Isaiah 30:1-2) Israel worshiped God, but then ran to Egypt for help without consulting God. They made plans to protect themselves, but failed to rely on the Lord for their refuge in time of trouble. Their worship was empty words and rituals, filled with unbelief that God could provide for them and protect them.
The Israelites wanted things in their control. They told the prophets to tell them pleasant things (illusions) and quit confronting them with the Holy One! (Isaiah 30:10-11) Empty worship and illusions go together. A false understanding of God leads to judgment and destruction. The American church must wake up to the warnings of Scripture. God requires repentance and rest in His care and protection. He wants His people to wait upon Him in quiet confidence and to see His salvation come to pass. (Isaiah 30:15)